A THIRD suspect in the foiled bombing near the US Embassy in Manila was arrested around noon Saturday in Bulakan, Bulacan, military and police sources said.
The sources identified the suspect as Mohammad Jumao-as, an accomplice Rayson Kilala Sakdal, alias Rashid, who was earlier arrested along with Jiaher Guinar.
The sources declined to reveal details because of ongoing intelligence operations but Jumao-as is believed to be the one who left the improvised explosive device made from a mortar round near the US Embassy.
The police later released a facial sketch made with the help of a witness who saw one of the three suspects and that resulted in the arrest of Sakdal and Guinar.
Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said the suspects were from the Maute Group, a group which President Rodrigo Duterte has linked to the international terrorist organization Islamic State.
The Maute group later occupied an abandoned municipal hall in Butig, Lanao del Sur as they fled a military operation launched to capture their leader.
But the violence in Lanao del Sur and the threat of acts of terror in other parts of the country, the PNP hoisted its highest terror alert across the country while the military continued its operations in Butig town that eventually resulted in killing of 61 rebels.